Marine Biotoxin Volunteer Program

Do you enjoy spending time at the beach, digging clams, learning new skills, and contributing your time to a worthwhile community project? The Skagit Conservation District and the Skagit County Health Department are seeking interested community volunteers (age 18 and up) to provide support in monitoring Skagit County's recreational beaches.

After attending an orientation meeting and completing approximately 6 hours of training, participants "adopt" a local recreational shellfish harvesting beach, where they collect shellfish samples during low tides to monitor for PSP (Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning). Once collected, the samples are dropped off at the Skagit County Health Department, where they are sent to the State Lab for testing. PSP is a serious illness caused by eating shellfish that have consumed large amounts of toxins. Regular monitoring of our recreational shellfish beaches will assure the safety of public health, as well as help keep our beaches open for recreational shellfish harvest when toxins are not present.

Time commitment for this program will include approximately 4 to 6 hours a month from April through September after completing the orientation and training.